Check out this non-exhaustive list of news and appearances by Grant Harris of Harris Africa Partners. Check back regularly for updates.

Recent Publications

Harris Op-Ed, “Why Every University Needs an Africa Strategy” published in Inside Higher EdRead Grant Harris’ article on why the demographic, economic and political trends with respect to Africa are impossible to overlook, and any institution aspiring to sustain a global brand and position its students to thrive in international settings will need a deliberate Africa strategy. The full text is available here.

Wilson Center “Year in Review” Features Harris’ Thoughts on Chinese Investment in AfricaThe Wilson Center’s “Africa: Year in Review 2018” features an essay by Grant Harris describing the perils of China’s debt diplomacy in Africa. The publication is available here.

Harris Article Published in Foreign Affairs: “Trump’s Africa Policy Is Destined for Failure”Read Grant Harris’ article on how the U.S. strategy toward Africa announced in December 2018 will be unsuccessful in countering China’s growing influence across the continent. The full text is available here.

Harris Op-Ed in The Washington Post: “The U.S. is Punishing Rwanda for Rejecting Our Old Jeans and T-Shirts. It’s a Shortsighted Move.”See Grant Harris’ op-ed on how the United States is engaging in petty trade disputes and neglecting commercial opportunities in Africa. The full text is available here.

Harris Op-Ed in TIME magazine: “China Is Loaning Billions of Dollars to African Countries. Here’s Why the U.S. Should Be Worried” See Grant Harris’ op-ed in TIME describing how Chinese debt diplomacy in Africa is harmful to U.S. national security. The full text is available here.

Harris Op-Ed, “In Africa, It’s Not Just China Eating America’s Lunch,” Published by the Wilson CenterRead the full text of Grant Harris’ recent op-ed, “In Africa, It’s Not Just China Eating America’s Lunch,” published by both the Wilson Center and allAfrica.com.

Harris Op-Ed in Foreign Policy: “Trump’s Militaristic Africa Policy Will Backfire”See Grant Harris’ op-ed describing how the United States is militarizing its Africa policy to the detriment of regional stability and the safety of Americans. The full text is available here.

Harris Op-Ed in U.S. News & World Report: “The Key to Stopping an Outbreak”See Grant Harris’ op-ed about how upcoming funding cuts for U.S. disease prevention efforts abroad will leave the U.S. less able to detect and prevent epidemics. The full text is available here.

Harris Featured in Campaign to Increase U.S. Investment in AfricaSee Grant Harris’ blog, “Why U.S. Companies Need to Include Africa in Their Global Growth Strategies,” available here. The blog was featured as part of the Initiative for Global Development’s “Africa Investment Rising” Campaign. Harris Africa Partners LLC is an organizational partner for IGD’s U.S. Roadshow Tour to promote greater trade with, and investment in, Africa.

Harris Op-Ed in U.S. News & World Report: “Stop the Ghost of ISIS from Haunting Africa”Read Grant Harris’ op-ed about how helping to advance economic growth and governance in African countries is vital to defeating the Islamic State group, al-Qaida, and other threats to American interests. The full text is available here.

Wilson Center “Year in Review” Features Harris’ Thoughts on President Trump’s Focus on North Korea Sanctions The Wilson Center’s “Africa: Year in Review 2017” draws on various contributors to describe some of the most important developments in Africa in 2017. In it, Grant Harris describes the Trump Administration’s efforts to counter North Korea’s links to African states. The publication is available here.

Harris Op-Ed in U.S. News & World Report: “End Africa’s Lifeline to North Korea”See Grant Harris’ op-ed on how to stem North Korea-Africa trade, which supplies Pyongyang with more than $100 million in deals each year. The full text is available here.

Cipher Brief’s “A Decade Into the Fight Against Al-Shabaab” Features Harris’ Commentary on Peacekeeping in SomaliaHarris was one of three experts called upon to comment on the status of African Union peacekeeping efforts in Somalia and the capability of Somali security forces to combat the terrorist group al-Shabaab. Read more here.

Harris Op-Ed in Foreign Policy: “The U.S. Needs Real Diplomacy to Counter North Korea in Africa”See Grant Harris’ op-ed describing how weak U.S. relationships in Africa will provide a backdoor to allow North Korea to evade international sanctions. The full text is available here.

Harris Op-Ed in U.S. News & World Report: “Ignoring Africa Endangers America”See Grant Harris’ op-ed about how U.S. engagement in Africa is needed to protect Americans from transnational threats, advance U.S. global leadership, and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness. The full text is available here.

Harris Op-Ed in Forbes: “By Ignoring Africa, U.S. Cedes Jobs To China”Read the full text of Grant Harris’ recent op-ed, “By Ignoring Africa, U.S. Cedes Jobs To China” in Forbes, available here.

Harris Op-Ed Published in The HillSee Grant Harris’ op-ed, “Where Trump Fails on US-Africa Policy, Congress Must Step In,” in The Hill, available here.

Harris Op-Ed Published by HuffPost SASee Grant Harris’ op-ed about the need to provide skills and opportunities to Africa’s youth, “Will African Leaders Allow Youth To Make The World A Better Place?” available here. The op-ed was also published in allAfrica.com, available here.

Harris Releases Comprehensive Report on “Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security”Harris released a report on how sub-Saharan Africa directly affects U.S. national interests with respect to combating transnational threats; advancing America’s economic competitiveness; and pursuing a global agenda that furthers U.S. national security. The report, sponsored by the Atlantic Council, was featured at events around the United States as well as at a summit in Turkey. It was the sixth most viewed and downloaded of all Atlantic Council publications in 2017. Additionally, the video of the release of the report (an interview with Washington Post global editor Karen Attiah, available here) was one of the top three most viewed Atlantic Council videos of the year, with over 60,000 views in North America, Africa, and beyond. View a copy of the report here.

Harris Op-Ed in Forbes: “Obama Stakes His Africa Legacy On Economic Growth”Read the full text of Grant Harris’ recent op-ed, “Obama Stakes His Africa Legacy On Economic Growth” in Forbes, available here.

Harris Op-Ed in Forbes on U.S. Investors Missing Out on Africa’s GrowthSee Grant Harris’ recent op-ed, “U.S. Investors Are Missing Out On Africa’s Economic Growth” in Forbes, available here.

Harris Featured in Pouvoirs d’AfriqueHarris’ Atlantic Council report on “Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security” was featured in Pouvoirs d’Afrique, a quarterly magazine that is a media partner of the Wall Street Journal. Request a copy of “Pourquoi l’Afrique est importante pour la sécurité américaine” or learn more about Pouvoirs d’Afrique here.

Harris Featured in IGD Campaign to Increase U.S. Investment in AfricaSee Grant Harris’ article, featured as part of the Initiative for Global Development’s “Africa Investment Rising” Campaign, available here. The blog, entitled “It’s Time for U.S. Companies to See Africa as an Investment Destination,” was also published by allAfrica.com.

Wilson Center “Year in Review” Features Harris’ Thoughts on Africa’s Tech Entrepreneurs The Wilson Center’s “Africa: Year in Review 2016” draws on various contributors to describe some of the most exciting and impactful developments in Africa in 2016. In it, Grant Harris describes Africa’s rising tech entrepreneurs. The publication is available here.

Harris published in Cipher BriefSee Grant Harris’ blog, “A Legacy in the Making: Obama’s Approach to Security Sector Assistance,” in the Cipher Brief, December 2016, available here.

Harris published in Horizons journal See Grant Harris’ recent essay, “The Imperative of African Leadership: Fulfilling the Continent’s Massive Potential,” in Horizons, the Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development, Winter 2016, available here.

Recent Speaking Events

Harris Moderates Discussion of SomalilandHarris moderated a panel for the Pacific Council on International Policy on the topic of Somaliland. Panelists included Michael Woldemariam, Associate Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Boston University, and Sagal Abshir, an independent consultant based in East Africa. An audio recording of the panel is available here.

Harris Speaks to Mandela Fellows at University of California, DavisGrant Harris gave remarks and met with a cohort of Mandela Washington Fellows, part of a program for young African leaders that Harris helped launch when working at the White House.

Harris Moderates Discussion of South African Elections Grant Harris moderated a conference call discussing what happened in the 2019 elections in South Africa and what it means for companies doing business in the country. The call was sponsored by the Business Council for International Understanding.

Harris Speaks at Berkeley-Haas Africa Business ForumGrant Harris was a panelist at the Berkeley-Haas Africa Business Forum in Berkeley, California. The panel discussed how public policy innovations can support economic growth and job creation across Africa. Other panelists included Carole Kariuki of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Dr. Albert G. Zeufack, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa.

Harris Speaks on Trade and Investment Issues in IndianapolisGrant Harris gave a talk on “Doing Business in Africa” at an event hosted by Malichi Group Worldwide at the Sagamore Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Harris Speaks at Indiana UniversityGrant Harris spoke on a panel discussing geopolitics and commercial diplomacy related to international development at the “America’s Role in the World” conference at Indiana University Bloomington. The panel was moderated by Dave Lawler (Associate Editor of World News at Axios) and also included Adam Hitchcock (Sovereign Infrastructure Group), W. Gyude Moore (former Minister of Public Works in Liberia), and Neera Tanden (President of the Center for American Progress). You can learn more about the conference here, and watch the panel here.

Harris Moderates Discussion of Nigerian ElectionsGrant Harris moderated a conference call discussing policy and political opportunities and risks coming out of the 2019 presidential elections in Nigeria for the Business Council for International Understanding.

Harris Speaks on Doing Business in Africa at Illinois District Export CouncilGrant Harris gave remarks and led a discussion of business opportunities in Africa with companies in Chicago that are doing business in, or are considering entering, African markets. The event was sponsored by the Illinois District Export Council.

Harris Speaks at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern UniversityGrant Harris spoke about strategic trends in Africa with business school students focused on the energy sector.

Harris Moderates Fireside Chat with Rwandan Minister of Justice at UC Davis Law SchoolGrant Harris moderated a discussion on “The Collective Memory of Genocide” with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Rwanda at the University of California, Davis Law School.

Harris Featured in Executive Roundtable at the International Trade Association of Greater ChicagoGrant Harris gave remarks and led a discussion on business opportunities in Africa with companies in Chicago that are doing business in, or are considering entering, African markets. The event was sponsored by the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago.

Harris Speaks at the University of ChicagoGrant Harris delivered remarks at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. The speech discussed strategic trends in sub-Saharan Africa and covered economic, demographic, conflict, and governance issues.

Harris Speaks on Panel on Emerging Markets at Kellogg School of ManagementGrant Harris appeared on a panel to discuss investing in emerging markets at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Fellow panelists were Marisa Lago, formerly the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Assistant Secretary for International Markets and Development, and Damien Ma, a China expert who is Associate Director of the Think Tank at the Paulson Institute.

Harris Keynotes Kuramo Capital “Sub-Saharan Africa Day” in New YorkGrant Harris delivered remarks during Kuramo Capital’s 6th annual Sub-Saharan Africa Day held at the Harvard Club of New York. The event brought together U.S. and global institutional investors, government officials, and key private sector leaders. The keynote discussed U.S. investor sentiment and trends with respect to sub-Saharan Africa. Other speakers at the event included Strive Masiyiwa, Executive Chairman and Founder of the Econet Group, and Dr. Okechukwu Emelamah, Honorable Minister of Trade and Investments, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Harris Speaks at Pearson Global Forum at the University of ChicagoGrant Harris discussed the causes of global conflict on a panel at the inaugural Pearson Global Forum. You can learn more about other speakers and the agenda here, and watch the panel here (starting at minute 30:30).

Harris Speaks at Johns Hopkins on U.S. National Security and AfricaGrant Harris spoke about U.S.-Africa relations with graduate students studying international relations at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Harris Speaks at Hoop Forum Conference in SenegalHarris was a panelist and discussed the economics of driving sustainable transformation at the SEED Project Hoop Forum in Dakar, Senegal. The themes of the panel included policy issues and investment opportunities as well as how sports and leadership education can support sustainable development.

Harris Delivers Remarks at New York City Bar AssociationGrant Harris gave remarks on a “Strategic Approach to Mitigating Business Risk in Africa” and discussed the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Africa at the New York City Bar Association. Select commentary on the event is available here.

Harris Interviewed in Fireside Chat at Trade and Investment Roadshow Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Carol Pineau interviewed Grant Harris on navigating risk while doing business in sub-Saharan Africa. The interview took place in New York as part of the Initiative for Global Development’s “Africa Investment Rising” Roadshow Tour to promote greater trade with, and investment in, Africa. Read more here.

Harris Speaks at New York University (NYU) on U.S. National Security and AfricaGrant Harris spoke about U.S.-Africa relations with NYU graduate students studying international relations.

Harris Inducted Into Lincoln High School Hall of FameGrant Harris is proud to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of Lincoln High School in Stockton, California. Lincoln High School was founded in 1954 and has inducted 71 of its estimated 25,000 graduates into the Hall of Fame.

Harris Speaks at American University on U.S. National Security IssuesHarris spoke at American University on challenges and opportunities with respect to U.S.-Africa relations.

Harris Creates Video with Wisconsin Chamber of CommerceCheck out this two-minute video produced in partnership with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state chamber of commerce, to highlight opportunities in Africa for U.S. companies.

Harris Speaks at University of Wisconsin-Madison on U.S.-Africa PolicyHarris gave a talk at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the many national security facets of U.S.-Africa relations. The discussion took place as part of “Africa at Noon,” a lecture series sponsored by the African Studies Program that dates back to 1973.

Harris Speaks at U.C. Berkeley on Africa and U.S. National SecurityHarris gave a talk on his report, Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security, at the University of California, Berkeley. The discussion ranged from transnational threats emanating from Africa to the economic opportunities that could support U.S. jobs and economic competitiveness.

Harris Speaks at Chatham House in LondonHarris gave a lecture in London at Chatham House (which was named one of the top three Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks by the University of Pennsylvania in 2017). The talk was entitled “North Korea-Africa Relations: Engagements and International Tensions,” and the audience included businesspersons, media, academics, advocates, and diplomats. Audio of the talk is available here.

Harris Speaks at Invest Africa Event in LondonInvest Africa-Business Council for Africa hosted a private roundtable for Harris to discuss the current state of U.S.-Africa relations and the role of U.S. companies on the continent.

Harris Moderates Discussion on U.S.-Africa Policy with Congressmember Karen BassHarris moderated a conversation with Congressmember Karen Bass on U.S.-Africa policy that included discussion of U.S. investment in the region, China’s deepening ties with African states, and countering terrorism and violent extremism. A video of the session, sponsored by the Pacific Council, is available here. Congressmember Bass represents the 37th Congressional District and serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where she is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa.

Harris Speaks at Columbia Business SchoolHarris was invited to Columbia Business School to speak to business school students on the topic of business opportunities in East Africa.

Harris Speaks at Lagos Business SchoolHarris was invited to speak at Lagos Business School, one of the top business programs in Africa, and gave a talk on “An American Perspective on Investing in Africa: Trends, Political Risk and Opportunities.”

Harris Speaks at Web Summit in Lisbon, PortugalHarris was a panelist at Web Summit, described by Forbes as “the best tech conference on the planet.” Over 59,000 people from 170 countries attended Web Summit in 2017. Harris discussed geopolitical considerations for investment in Africa along with co-panelists Yonov Frederick Agah (Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization) and Mariéme Jamme (Founder, iamtheCODE). The panel was moderated by Belinda Goldsmith (Editor-in-Chief, Thomson Reuters Foundation). A video of the session is available here.

Harris Leads Executive Seminar at Business Today in New YorkHarris was invited by Princeton University’s Business Today to lead an Executive Seminar with select undergraduate students attending the conference. The discussion covered a broad range of business and policy issues related to Africa, including regional integration, cybersecurity, and Chinese investment across the continent. Previous Executive Seminars have been led by such business leaders as Robert Marcus, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable; William Lewis, CEO of Dow Jones; and Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman of Pepsico.

Harris Speaks at Chicago Council on Global Affairs in Chicago, IllinoisHarris joined a panel to discuss investment, business, and development issues in sub-Saharan Africa. The genesis of the event was Harris’ report for the Atlantic Council on Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security. Co-panelists were Ian Solomon, the Founder and CEO of SolomonGlobal LLC (and, previously, the U.S. Executive Director to the World Bank), and Bronwyn Bruton, the Deputy Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council. The video of the panel can be found here.

Harris Speaks at Global Midwest Alliance Event in Chicago, IllinoisThe Global Midwest Alliance and the law firm K&L Gates sponsored a discussion on Africa featuring Harris and Ian Solomon, Founder and CEO of SolomonGlobal LLC. The discussion touched on U.S. investment strategies in Africa, political risk, and the policies that African countries should adopt to support long-term economic growth.

Harris Keynotes Oregon World Affairs Council Event on U.S.-Africa PolicyHarris gave a talk on his recent report, Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security, in a WorldOregon event held in Portland, Oregon. The discussion ranged from transnational challenges such as terrorism to entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Harris Speaks on Defense Policy in Africa at the U.S. Air Force AcademyHarris discussed how Africa fits into the future of American defense policy as a panelist at the 59th Academy Assembly, organized by the United States Air Force Academy and Columbia University’s American Assembly. Additional background is available here.

Harris Speaks on the Role of the U.S. Military in AfricaHarris joined a panel with General David Rodriguez, Commander (ret.), U.S. Africa Command and Amanda Dory, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs to discuss the U.S. military’s mission in Africa. The panel was sponsored by the Pacific Council, and an audio recording is available here.

Harris Moderates Discussion on Private Sector Investment in the CongoHarris moderated a discussion with Kelly Goodejohn, Director of Ethical Sourcing at Starbucks, on investing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The event was sponsored by the Eastern Congo Initiative and took place on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Washington Post’s Karen Attiah Interviews Harris on U.S.-Africa Policy on Facebook LiveAttiah interviewed Harris on Facebook Live regarding his report on “Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security.” The interview (available here) had over 60,000 views in North America, Africa, and beyond.

Harris Releases Report on “Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security” at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DCHarris delivered keynote remarks and participated in a discussion moderated by Karen Attiah, Global Opinions Editor at the Washington Post, to roll out his comprehensive report on “Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security.” Harris’ report, available here, details the many ways in which Africa is important to U.S. national interests with respect to combating transnational threats; advancing America’s economic competitiveness; and pursuing a global agenda that furthers U.S. national security. Harris’ report was the sixth most viewed and downloaded of all Atlantic Council publications in 2017. Additionally, the video of the release of the report (an interview with Washington Post global editor Karen Attiah, available here) received over 60,000 views in North America, Africa, and beyond.

Harris Speaks on Renewable Energy at AFC Live Summit in NigeriaHarris was a panelist discussing renewable energy projects in Africa at the Africa Finance Corporation’s “AFC Live” Summit, Africa’s premier infrastructure conference, in Abuja, Nigeria. More information is available here.

Harris Speaks About Key Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa at Stanford’s Graduate School of BusinessHarris discussed key and emerging economic, political, and security trends in Africa at Stanford in May 2017. Harris was hosted by Seed, the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (learn more here).

Harris Speaks on Investing in Africa at the Atlantic Council Summit in TurkeyHarris speaks on a panel about “Developing Africa: Investment Strategies, Challenges, and Opportunities” at the Atlantic Council’s Istanbul Summit 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey. Learn more here.

Harris Serves as Rapporteur of the Technology Working Group Harris Serves as Rapporteur of the Technology Working Group at the Ditchley Foundation’s conference on investment in Africa. Find out more here.

Harris Addresses African Diplomatic Corps in Washington, DCGrant Harris was invited by the African diplomatic corps (i.e., the body of African diplomats accredited to the United States) for a private discussion on trade and investment issues and the future prospects for U.S.-Africa relations.

Harris Discusses the Outlook for Business and Investment in Africa at the Elliott School of International AffairsGrant Harris was interviewed by Dean Reuben Brigety of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University in November 2016. The conversation covered key trends, challenges, and opportunities with respect to investing in Africa.

Harris Speaks on Trade and a Investment at Pacific CouncilGrant Harris spoke on a panel exploring Africa’s economic growth, including the prospects for increased U.S. trade and investment. Learn more here.

Harris Attends U.S.-Africa Business ForumGrant Harris attended the second U.S.-Africa Business Forum (USABF), a signature event under the Doing Business in Africa Campaign that he launched while serving at the White House. The USABF was co-hosted by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Learn more here.

Harris Featured in Pacific Council Session on South AfricaCheck out the highlights and audio recording of a recent panel featuring Grant Harris discussing the political and economic situation in South Africa, available here.

Harris Delivers Keynote Speech at American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) National Conference

Boards and Councils

President Obama Appoints Harris to Serve on United States Holocaust Memorial CouncilSee the White House Press Release announcing President Obama’s intent to appoint Grant Harris to serve as a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, which was established by Congress and serves as the governing board of trustees of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Additional background on the Council is available here.

Harris Joins Board of the Africa Finance CorporationAFC is an international multilateral finance institution with a current balance sheet size of approximately $3.2 billion. AFC was created to catalyze private sector infrastructure investment across Africa and is now the second highest investment grade rated multilateral financial institution on the continent. AFC invests in high quality infrastructure assets, particularly in the power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications sectors. Visit the AFC website: http://www.africafc.org/

Harris Appointed to Global Advisory Council of World Learning Inc. World Learning Inc. is a nonprofit organization advancing leadership in over 100 countries, with a mission to “empower people and strengthen institutions through education, sustainable development, and exchange programs.” Learn more at: http://www.worldlearninginc.org/who-we-are/bios/grant-harris/

President Obama Nominates Harris to Serve on Board of Directors of U.S. Institute of PeaceSee the White House Press Announcement nominating Grant Harris to serve on the Board of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an “independent, nonpartisan institution established and funded by Congress to increase the nation’s capacity to manage international conflict without violence.”